Coin controlled apparatus



' 'Feb.19,1935. A EMcGuER-w 1,992,034

COIN CONTROLLED APPARATUS Filed Aug. 24, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 9 N N 9 A 9 9 Feb. 19, 1935. I I E, MaGUERTY I 1,992,034

COIN CONTROLLED APPARATUS Fi1ed Aug. 24, 1932 4'Sheets-Sheec 2 Feb. 19, 1935.

E. M GUERTY COIN CONTROLLED APPARATUS Filed Aug. 24, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 /v a t v 702 MC 6a5er)" M 44.1.,

Feb. 19, 1935. P. E. Mc GUERTY 1,992,034

COIN CONTROLLED APPARATUS Filed Aug. 24, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet Patented Feb. 11%, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFica com CONTROLLED APPARATUS Paul E. McGuerty, East Dedham, Mass. I Application August 24, 1932, Serial No. 630,222

11 Claims.

This invention relates to coin-controlled mechanisms, and more particularly to such mechanisms the principles of this invention are incorporated; which are adapted to be operable in response to the insertion of a coin and the subsequent move- 5 ment of an actuating handle. The inventionis particularly applicable to apparatus provided with electrical operating means controlled by liquid to a suitable exterior container.

TO- permit these desirable results, means are provided to condition the circuit for the electric motor or driving means so thatit may only operate in response to the definite movement of a suitable coin into the machine and so that any possible manipulation of the'actuating handle or exterior tampering with the machine will not be effective in permitting the operation of the electrically driven motor or will not be effective in causing the machine to operate through more than one cycle in response to the insertion of a single coin.

A further important aspect of the invention relates to the provision of a novel coin chute provided with suitable plunger mechanism to remove a coin or foreign object which might otherwise become lodged in the coin chute.

The invention further provides improved details of construction and arrangements of parts whichpermits the provision of a simple and dependable machine at a low cost.

Fig. 2 is a section indicated by line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a section in Fig. 1;

dicated by line 33 of Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing the operating parts of the mechanism in difierent relative positions;

Fig. 5 is a section on line 55 of Fig. 2; Fig. 6 is a sectional detail corresponding to Fig. 5, but showing some of the operating parts in another position; v

Fig. 7 is a front elevation of a machine in which Fig. 8 is a side elevation of such a machine;

Fig. 9 is a wiring diagram; Fig. 10 is a view corresponding to Fig. 3 but showing the parts in a different relative position;

Fig. 11 is a top detail of a portion of the ejector mechanism for removing the coinfrom the extension of the coin slot; and

Fig. 12 is a view partly in side elevation of the cam shaft and the switches associated therewith.

A machine of the character disclosed herein may have any suitable'case 1 which, as illustrated, may be a hollow sheet metal case provided with an inclined coin chute 2 having an open outer end providing a'slot 3 in which a coin may be inserted. The coin chute 2 comprises a channeled element 4 and a metal cover plate 5 secured thereto. Slidably mounted in the chute is a plunger 8 (Fig. 2), which is normally in a retracted position so that its endis spaced from the exposed end of the chute. The chute is provided with a downwardly extending continuation 9 provided by extensions of the members 4 and 5, the cross section of the coin passage provided by the chute and the cross section of the extension 9 being arranged so that a coin of the predeter- I mined denomination may be readily received' therein. The. inner end of plunger 8 carries a block 10 from which a pivot pin 11 protrudes to engage a slot 12 in the crank arm 13 mounted on actuating shaft 14. The latter projects through the side of the casing and is provided with an outer, operating crank 16. An arm 17 is pivotally mounted upon-the member 4 adjoining the chute continuation 9 and carries a pin 18 normally extending across the lower, open end of this extension of the coin passage, the arm 17 normally being held in this position by the tension spring 21 (Fig. 3).

The block 10 has an extension 23 with an outer abutment surface engageable with a flange 24 upon a swinging ejector arm 26. An outstanding flange upon arm 26 carries an ejector 27 pivotally mounted thereon, a spring 2'7 tending to move this ejector to the position shown in Fig. 6 wherein its inner end projects into the curved slot 28 in the wall of the coin passage 9. Thus when the plunger 8 is moved upwardly in response to a swinging movement of arm 13, as shown in Fig. 4, the abutment surface of plunger 28 engages the lug 24 upon ejector arm 26 to swing the opposite end of the latter which carries the ejector 2'7 downwardly permitting the spring 27 to swing the inner end of this member upwardly so that ample, in response to the rotation of a main cam shaft 30 which is driven by a motor 31, the cam shaft being arranged to carry out one cycle of operations during one revolution, and it therefore being necessary to limit the movement of this shaft to one revolution in response to the insertion 'of one coin and the subsequent operation of the actuating handle 16.

As shown in Figs. 3 and 9, a solenoid magnet 32 may be mounted above the coin chute and arranged to attract a swinging armature arm 33 which is pivotally mounted on the chute and is normally held in engagement with a stop pin 34 by a tension spring 35. ,The outer end of this arm is provided with hooked end 36 engageable with the upper end of arm 1'7.

One contact 42 of a switch assembly I is mounted on the upper end of arm 17, the other contact of this assembly being mounted upon but insulated from the coin chute. This contact may be in the form of a metal strip 43, the lower end of which provides one contact of a switch assembly J,'the opposite contact 44 of the latter being mounted upon but insulated from the bracket 46 secured to the front wall of easing 1. A projection 4'7 of insulating material secured to crank arm 13 is movable into a position to cause closing of the switch J, as illustrated in Fig. 4.

A cam 49 upon the shaft 30 is effective during a part of the rotary movement of the shaft 30 in closing a switch K, while another cam 50 is effective in closing a switch L during another portion of the movement of this shaft. As shown in Fig. 9, the motor 31 may be connected to a suitable source of electrical current S by a lead 52, the opposite side of the factor S being connected by a lead 53 and its extension 54 to the fixed contact of switch L, the movable contact of the latter being connected by a lead 55 and a connected lead 56 to the other side of the motor 31. Thus when the cam 50 permits the switch L to be closed, current may flow from the source S through the lead 52 to the motor 31 and thence through leads 56 and 55, switch L, leads 54 and 53 to the other side of source S.

The lead 53 is continued as the lead 53 and thus connected to the contact 44 of the switch J, while the lead 56 is continued as the lead 56 and connected to the movable contact of the switch assembly I. It is thus evident that current may also flow to'the motor 31 through the lead 52, thence passing through leads 56, 56 switch I, conductor 43, switch J, leads 53 and 53, back to the source of electrical energy whenever both switches I and J are closed.

The switch K is connected to a suitable source of current S by a lead 60, the opposite side of source S being connected by leads 61 to the magnet 32 and a lead 64 connecting the latter to the movable contact of switch K. When the member 1'7 is swung about its axis against the tension of spring 21 by the downward movement of a coin 9, the upper end of member 1'7 snaps past the hooked end 36 of the latch element 33 so that the member 1'7 is temporarily locked in the position shown in Fig. 10 and switch I is closed. when the control crank 16 is actuated,

member 4'7 closes the switch J so that current can be supplied to the motor 31 through switches I and J to cause a partial rotation of cam shaft 30, this movement being sufiicient to permit switch L to close, and upon slight further movement of the cam shaft, switch K closes to energize magnet 32' and cause lifting of armature latch 33 to release the member 1'7 so that the latter returns to inoperative position, thus opening the circuit through leads 56 and 53- by opening switch I.

In the operation of a machinenf this character a coin of suitable size is inserted in the chute 4, and will drop into the extension 9 to engage the pin 18. The crank 16 is then moved to swing the crank arm 13 and slide the plunger 8 upwardly substantially to the mouth of the coin chute, this plunger being effective in ejecting foreign articles or damaged coins from the chute, so that the latter may remain ready to receive a coin of proper dimensions. As the plunger 8 moves upwardly the projection 23 is effective in swinging arm 26 and moving the coin C (Fig. 4) downwardly past the pin 18, thus swinging the arm 1'7 so that the switch I is closed. While this switch is held closed by latch 33, the switch J is closed due to the position of the operating handle 13 and the arm 13 at the ends of their respective paths (Fig. 4). Accordingly current is momentarily supplied to the motor 31 through the switches I and J to cause rotation of crank shaft 30 to a position wherein the switch L may close to cause the circuit through the leads 54 and 55 to be effective in permitting continued movement of the motor. As the shaft 30 continues to rotate the switch K is closed and the armature arm 33 is attracted to the magnet 32 to release member 1'7 and open switch 1. Accordingly the switch I is then opened irrespective of the position of arm 13 and handle 60, and the holding of the handle in any position does not result in continuous operation of the motor 31. As the cam shaft completes its revolution, the cam 50 again moves into position to open the switch L so that the motor 31 no longer receives current, and further movement of the cam shaft is interrupted.

I claim:

1. Coin-controlled apparatus comprising a coin chute, a manually operable ejector movable to eject a coin from the inner end of the chute, a trip member yieldably held in the inner end of said chute to block the movement of a coin therethrough, said member being movable out of its normal position when a coin is thus ejected, an electric motor, a main control switch for said motor, a cam shaft driven by said motor and operative to effect opening and closing of the main switch, a secondary switch in parallel with the main switch and closable upon movement of the trip member out of its normal position, and a manually actuable switch closabie upon movement of the ejector to eject a coin, electromagnetic means effective upon energization to cause opening of said secondary switch, a control switch for said electromagnetic means, said control switch being operable by the cam shaft, said cam shaft being effective to open the main switch to permit temporary energization of said motor through the secondary and manually actuable switches, said cam shaft being thereafter effective in closing said main switch and in closing said control switch so that said electromagnetic means may cause opening of the secondary switch.

2. Coin-controlled apparatus comprising a coin chute, a manually operable handle, a trip normally preventing a coin from moving out of the inner end of the chute, an ejector to engage the coin and move the trip, said handle being movable to actuate said ejector, a switch closable in response to such a movement of the trip, a switch in series therewith closable by movement of the handle to the end of its path, an electric motor energizable through connections in series with said switches whereby the motor may operate when both switches are closed, a main switch in parallel with said switches, and means-automatically to close said main switch after the motor has started running and thereafter to open said main switch after the motor has run for a predetermined amount.

3. Coin-controlled apparatus comprising a coin chute, a handle, said chute having a downwardly extending continuation, a trip extending across the open lower end of said continuation, and movable out of the path of the coin as the coin leaves said passage, an ejector movable inresponse to movement of the handle and eifective to push a coin past the trip, a switch closable in response to such a movement of the coin, a latch effective to hold the switch in its closed position, an electric magnet to release the latch, an electric motor operable in response to closing of said switch, a cam shaft driven by said motor, said shaft having a switch-closing cam thereon, .a

I main switch in parallel with the first-named switch and closable in response to movement of said cam, a magnet-control switch in series with said electromagnet, a second camupon said shaft effective to close said control switch after movement of the cam shaft has been initiated, whereby the first-named switch may be opened due to the releasing of said latch in response to energiza-- tion of the magnet after the first-named cam has been effective in-closing the main switch.

4. Coin-controlled apparatus comprising a coin chute, a trip adjoining the inner, open end of the chute, a trip adjoining the inner, open end of the chute, said trip normally being effective in preventing movement of a coin out of said end of the chute, a handle, a plunger movable in said chute to dislodge a damaged coin, an ejector movable into the inner end of the chute to press a coin past the trip, said ejector being operable in response to movement of the plunger, an electric motor, a control switch therefor closable in response to such a movement of the trip, and means thereafter to maintain the motor in operating condition only during a predetermined operating cycle.

6. Coin-controlled apparatus comprising a coin ,chute, a trip adjoining the inner, open end of the chute, said trip normally being effective in preventing movement of a coin out of said end of the chute, a handle, an'ejector movable into the inner end of the chute to press a coin past the trip, said ejector being operable in response to movement of the handle, an electric motor, a control switch therefor closable in response to such a movement of the trip, and means thereafter to maintain the motor in operating condition only during a predetermined operating cycle, said means including a cam driven by the motor and a main switch, said cam being effective to close said main switch after initial operation of the motor by current received through said control switch.

7. Coin-controlled apparatus comprising a coin chute, a trip adjoining the inner, open endof the chute, said trip normally being effective in preventing movement of a coin out of said end of the chute, a handle, a plunger movable in said chute, an ejector arm movable in response to plunger movement, the wall of said chute having a slot therein adjoining the trip, and an ejector pivotally mounted on said arm and having an end automatically movable through said slot into the chute to press a coin past the trip in response to movement of the ejector arm and plunger.

8. Coin-controlled apparatus comprising a coin chute, a trip adjoining'the inner, open end of the chute, said trip normally being effective in preventing movement of a coin out of-said end of the chute, a handle, an ejector movable into the inner end of the chute to press a coin past the trip, said ejector being operable in response to movement of the handle, an electric motor, a control switch ,therefor closable in response to such a movement of the .trip, and means including a main switch thereafter to maintain the motor in operating condition only during a predetermined operating cycle, an electromagnet, a latch affording an armature for said magnet, a spring auto-'- matically swinging said latch to a position wherein it holds said control switch closed, and means operable to energize the magnet and. release the latch from looking position after the main switch has been closed. v

9. Coin-controlled apparatus comprising a coin chute, a trip adjoining the inner, open end of the chute, said trip normally being efiective in preventing movement of a coin out of said end of the chute, a handle, an ejector movable into the inner end of the chute to press a coin past the trip, said ejector being operable in response to movement of the handle, an electric motor, a control switch therefor closable in response to such a movement of the trip, and means including a main switch thereafter to maintain the motor in operating condition only during a predetermined operating cycle, an electro-magnet, a latch afiording an armature for said magnet, a spring automatically swinging said latch to a position wherein it holds said control switch closed, and means operable to move the latch out of said position after the main switch is closed, thus to permit opening of the control switch.

10. Coin-controlled apparatus comprising a coin chute, a trip adjoining the inner, open end of the chute, said trip normally being eifective in preventing movement of a coin out of said end of the chute, a handle, an ejector movable into the inner end of the chute to press a coin past the trip; an electric motor, a control switch therefor closable-in response to such a movement of the trip, and means including a main switch thereafter to maintain the motor in operating condition only during a predetermined operating cycle, an electro-magnet, a latch affording an armature for said magnet, a spring automatically swinging said latch to a position wherein it holds said control switch closed, means operable to move the latch out of said position after the main switch is closed, thus to permit opening of the control switch, and a secondary switch in series with said control switch, said secondary switch being closed in response to movement of said handle.

11. Coin-controlled apparatus comprising a coin chute, a trip adjoining the inner, open end of the chute, said trip normally being eil'ective in preventing movement of a coin out of said end of the chute, a handle, an ejector movable into the inner end of the chute to press a coin past the trip, said ejector 'being operable in response to movement of the handle, an electric motor, a control switch therefor closable in response to such a movement of the trip. and means thereafter to maintain the motor in operating condi- 6 tion only during a predetermined operating cycle.

PAUL E. MCGUERTY. 

